Whaleback (California)

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Whaleback
Whaleback, north aspect.jpg
North aspect, from Big Wet Meadow
Highest point
Elevation 11,717 ft (3,571 m) [1]
Prominence 557 ft (170 m) [1]
Parent peak Peak 12660 [2]
Isolation 1.66 mi (2.67 km) [2]
Listing Sierra Peaks Section
Coordinates 36°37′49″N118°31′52″W / 36.6302801°N 118.5311618°W / 36.6302801; -118.5311618 Coordinates: 36°37′49″N118°31′52″W / 36.6302801°N 118.5311618°W / 36.6302801; -118.5311618 [3]
Naming
Etymology Whaleback
Geography
Relief map of California.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Whaleback
Location in California
Usa edcp relief location map.png
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Whaleback
Whaleback (the United States)
Location Kings Canyon National Park
Tulare County, California, U.S.
Parent range Sierra Nevada
Great Western Divide [1]
Topo map USGS Sphinx Lakes
Geology
Type of rock granitic
Climbing
First ascent 1936, Adele van Loben Sels, May Pridham [4]
Easiest route class 3 [2]

Whaleback is a remote 11,717-foot-elevation (3,571 meter) three-mile-long ridge located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Tulare County of northern California. [3] It is situated in Kings Canyon National Park, extending north from the Great Western Divide. This geographical feature has significant topographic relief as it rises 2,900 feet (884 meters) above Shortys Cabin in Cloud Canyon in approximately one mile. Whaleback ranks as the 488th highest peak in California. [2] The first ascent of the summit was made August 5, 1936, by May Pridham and Adele van Loben Sels. [5]

Contents

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Whaleback is located in an alpine climate zone. [6] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range (orographic lift). Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into headwaters of the Roaring River.

See also

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The Sphinx (Kings Canyon National Park)

The Sphinx is a 9,143-foot-elevation (2,787 meter) double summit pillar located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Kings Canyon National Park, in Fresno County of northern California. This landmark is situated at the northern end of the Great Western Divide, two miles southeast of Kanawyers, five miles northwest of North Guard, and immediately south of the confluence of Bubbs Creek and South Fork Kings River. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) above the canyon in one mile. This geographical feature was named in 1891 by John Muir. This feature's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. The Sphinx is the further north and slightly lower of the two peaks, and was the first rock climb done in the Kings Canyon region. The first ascent of the summit was made July 26, 1940, by Art Argiewicz and Bob Jacobs. The North Buttress was first climbed October 18, 1970, by Fred Beckey, Greg Donaldson, and Walt Vennum.

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Mount Genevra is a remote 13,054-foot-elevation mountain summit located on the Kings–Kern Divide of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Tulare County of northern California. It is situated on the shared boundary of Kings Canyon National Park with Sequoia National Park, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southeast of Mount Brewer, and 0.86 miles (1.38 km) east of Mount Jordan, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 3,025 feet (922 meters) above Lake Reflection in 1.5 mile. Mount Genevra ranks as the 138th highest summit in California, and the eighth highest peak on the Kings–Kern Divide.

Mount Jordan

Mount Jordan is a remote 13,343-foot-elevation mountain summit located on the Kings–Kern Divide of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Tulare County of northern California. It is situated on the shared boundary of Kings Canyon National Park with Sequoia National Park, 3.1 miles (5.0 km) southwest of Mount Stanford, and one mile west of Mount Genevra, which is the nearest neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 3,313 feet (1,010 meters) above Lake Reflection in 1.3 mile. Mount Jordan ranks as the 84th highest summit in California, and the fifth-highest peak on the Kings–Kern Divide.

Grand Sentinel

Grand Sentinel is an 8,518-foot-elevation (2,596 meter) pillar located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Kings Canyon National Park, in Fresno County of northern California. This landmark is situated at the northern end of the Great Western Divide, two miles west-northwest of The Sphinx, and immediately south of Kanawyers and Zumwalt Meadow. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises nearly 3,500 feet (1,067 meters) above the canyon floor in one-half mile. This feature's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

South Guard

South Guard is a remote 13,232-foot-elevation mountain summit located near the northern end of the Great Western Divide of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Tulare County of northern California. It is situated in Kings Canyon National Park, 1.63 miles (2.62 km) south of North Guard, and one mile south of Mount Brewer, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) above Cloud Canyon in 3.5 miles, and the east aspect rises 3,200 feet (976 meters) above Lake Reflection in two miles. South Guard ranks as the 103rd highest summit in California, and the third-highest point of the northern Great Western Divide.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Whaleback, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Whaleback - 11,717' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  3. 1 2 "Whaleback". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  4. Bill Oliver, Oct-Dec 2007, The Sierra Echo, page 19
  5. R. J. Secor, The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, Trails, 2009, Third Edition, Mountaineers Books, ISBN   9781594857386
  6. Climate of the Sierra Nevada, Britannica.com